Mop having triangular compressible cleaning element



Feb 16, 1954 H. B. TOOMBS 2,668,969

MOP I -IAVING TRIANGULAR COMPRESSIBLE CLEANING ELEMENT Filed Dec. 20, 1949 Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES? PATENT MJQ'P TRIANGULAJB; CQMPBE S'SIBLE CLEANING ELEME-Ntl Hwy'Bt 'lloombafl ior-ki 6-, Application n cemher 20, 1943,, Serial Nq..133,9 80,.

1.Ql81 (c1. lie- 113):.

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved mop andespecially a floor mop.

It is an object of the invention to furnish a device of this type which will incorporate an improved wrin er structuresuch that water collected by the head of the mop may be readily expelled so. that the device will be ready. for; luse- 4 further object is that of providing ahead, structure. for a mop and which structure will; embody, a. novel and improved. arrangement. of, parts.-

additional object is that. of. iurnishing an. apparatus embodying relatively few parts each individually simple and rug ed in construction which parts may be manufactured by quantityproduction; methods and assembled; to furnish: a ussedun te able f e nau esii qr eneriqd of time with freedom from all difiiculties, and in which, moreover, renewal of the parts may be achieved with minimum efforts.

With these and other objects in mind reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the mop assembly;

Fig. 2 is a face view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mop carrying portion or head of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts in a different position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the outer portion of the apparatus including the mop taken along the lines 5-5 and in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the outer or head portion of the apparatus and showing the parts of the same in the position illustrated in Fig. 4.

Referring primarily to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral [0 indicates a handle or actuating rod of any desired type and material. The numeral ll generally designates the head of the mop which will be hereinafter described in detail. Slidably mounted upon the handle I!) is an actuating collar l2, to which the outer ends of links 13 are pivotly secured. Beyond these links further links M in the form of bars or struts are disposed. The ends of links M are pivotally secured as at IE to the mop head. Intermediate their ends these links are pivotly supported by a collar IE or other part slidably mounted upon handles I 0. The inner ends of links I 4 are pivotally connected as at IT to the adjacent ends of links I3.

illustrated, these. headed portions may be in the form of bumpers so as toprevent: orminimize marring of furniture and: other surfaceswhich they-might contact;

Themounting portion at the head includes two pairs of links 2! and 22. The indvidual links of each pair-- may comprise wedge-shaped bodies.

Thereduced end portions of the links providingthe palm I are-overlapped and pivotallyconnected as at 23. The outer ends of these links or plates present a dimension of maximum width and the links of difierent pairs are overlapped and connected as indicated at 24. Straps 25 may be movably carried by the pivots 23 and furnish a point of pivotal connection for the links I4. Likewise the pivots 24 preferably mount supporting plates in the form of base portion 26 from which walls 21 extend upwardly. The latter are formed with inwardly and upwardly extending slots 28.

The dimensions of slots 28 should be such that they will accommodate the rod l9, but will not permit of the passage of the headed portions 20 thereof. A further link or bar 29 is mounted at a point centrally of its length as indicated at 30 by handle In. Its opposite ends are pivotly connected as at 3| to one each of the individual links or plates providing pairs 2! and 22.

Due to the resiliency of the layers [8 the parts will normally assume the positions shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The action of gravity will assist in such positioning if the mop is stored in a position at which its head extends upwardly; the weight of the actuator and connected links assuring this result. As will be apparent in normal use the mop may be disposed to have its head extended downwardly and may traverse a surface to be cleaned in the usual manner. Such cleaning will be especially effective in view of the configuration of surface-contacting elements. When a renewal of the mop head or elements is desirable, then this may readily be achieved by simply depressing rod [9 downwardly Within the vertical portions of slots 28 and until the latter may ride upwardly within the inclined portions of these slots. A reversal of thi procedure will enable a new head part to be disposed in mounted position.

When it is desired to wring the mop or, in other words, expel the moisture contained within the elements I8 of the head portion thereof, all that is necessary is for an operator to project the actuator 12 alon the handle Ill and in the direction of the head. With such projection the adjacent ends of links l3 and- M will be swung outwardly. This will result in the ends of links or straps 25 mounting the pivots l5 also bein swung outwardly. Accordingly, the parallel links movement embracing the links or plates 2| and 22 will be moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4. Under these circumstances, plates 21 will be shifted towards each other or in the direction of the pivot 30. Consequently elements 18 will be compressed along rod l9 between these plates and the excess liquid will be squeezed therefrom. As the actuator is retracted, the parts will reassume the position shown in the first three figures. Accordingly, an efficient wringin of the mop assembly is achieved.

As will be noted, due to the Width and curved edge configuration of the elements l8 providing the mop head, the latter may be moved in cleaning contact with the floor surface and even under articles of furniture closely above that surface. To this end, the handle may be shifted to assume a substantially horizontal position. Individual elements l8 may be removed from rod IQ for the purpose of renewal or cleaning. Such elements may be economically provided from scrap or otherwise.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are accomplished. Obviously numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claim.

I claim:

In a mop having a handle and a head on said handle the combination of two opposed pairs of plates oppositely positioned with respect to said handle and, coupled to provide a parallel link motion, end walls pivotally supported on two of said plates in line with their point of pivotal connection, a compressible cleaning element mountable adjacent to said plates, a rod insertable through said element and mounted in said end walls receiving said rod, actuating portions secured in line with the other pivots of said plates, said actuating portions being movably mounted on said handle to shift said plates and cause said end walls to move inwardly towards each other whereby said compressible element may be compressed equally from both ends with said handle in a vertical position.

HARRY B. TOOMBS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,502,148 Magaton July 22, 1924 1,798,188 Brown Mar. 31, 1931 2,044,075 Jelenfy June 16, 1936 2,138,712 Saffert Nov. 29, 1938v 2,251,384 Thomas Aug. 5, 1941 2,254,648 Gilsdorf Sept. 2, 1941 2,413,872 Hoyer Jan. 7, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 243,064 Switzerland Jan. 2, 1946 623,896 Great Britain May 25, 1949 

